Wednesday, August 27, 2008

I'm # 1 at Fictionwise and so is Menagerie! :)

I want to scream and shout to the world. I finally did it!I hit number one on the recent author bestseller list at Fictionwise!Click HERE to see. But look quick... I don't know how long it will last.I want to shriek. I want to dance. I want to sing...Okay maybe not sing. :) I'll spare everyone. hee heeCheck it out.L

Monday, August 25, 2008

Not much longer...to submit to the STAR contest!

Time to get your entries in to the Launching a STAR contest.Entries must be postmarked by September 8, 2008LHere's more information:

***Permission to Forward Given and Encouraged***

Becky Bluebird tumbled from the wire at the unmistakable sound of wings beating the air.

“Hawk!” she squalked though there was no one else to warn. Usually she had to feather her way to a spot on the crow-ded perch, but tonight she was the only bird on the wire. She waited for the sharp pinch of talons and gave Mable B the eye as the oh-so-not-a-hawk swooped from the sky to grab a piece of telephone line. Regaining her composure, Becky fluttered in beside the blackbird.

“Did I miss a cat call?” Becky trilled after her heart slowed to its usual race. Across the street, the woman misted the big screen. The show was about to start. “Where’s the rest of the flock?”

“Guess they’re getting their Launching A Star entries in the mail,” Mable tweated. She ruffled a tail feather and gave a smug, “I sent mine in ages ago.”

Becky sidled from one claw to another. “That’s the contest where the editors and agents requested 15 manuscripts last year, isn’t it?” she warbled. She’d forgotten all about it.

“Yep,” Mable chirped. “A couple of finalists signed with agents and one sold. Plus, the winner has a star named in their honor. Star Mable. That’s mine.” She waved a feather at a yellow, twinkling light.

Becky pretended to pick nits from her pin feathers and wondered if it was too late to enter. “When was that deadline again?”

“Entries must be postmarked by September 8th. Hey,” Mable cackled as Becky took to the air. “Where are you going?”

“Gotta fly, Mable,” Becky chirrupped. “Things to do and birdies to hatch.”

“And contests to enter,” Mable whistled. “May the best bird soar!”

Only two weeks remain ‘til the postmarked deadline for the 2008 Launching A Star! Our acquiring editors and agents requested an amazing 15 manuscripts from the finalists of last year’s contest. As a direct result, two of our finalists signed with their dream agents. And one SOLD in a 3-book deal to a major NY publisher.

To enter, submit the first chapter (25 page max) of your unpublished romance in any of our seven categories. All first round judges (2 per entry, one trained, one published in romance) will provide constructive comments on every entry. Two industry professionals (one agent and one editor) will judge each category in the final round. Complete details and entry forms are available on the STAR Chapter website: www.authorsofromance.com

But hurry! You must send your entry in no later than September 8th.

Launching a Star 2008

Sponsor: SpacecoasT Authors of Romance Chapter (STAR)

Fee: $25-$30, SASE

Deadline: Post-marked by September 8th, Received by September 15th

E-deadline (for non-US residents only): Emailed by September 8th, received by September 10th.

Eligibility: Unpublished or not published by RWA-recognized publisher in book length fiction within 5 years

Top Prize: A star named in your honor! FMI, entry form, rules, and a list of Frequently Asked Questions, go to www.authorsofromance.com or contact Lee Duncan, contest coordinator at contest@authorsofromance.com

Meanwhile, back at Florida's east coast, five days of rain is about to put me over the edge of reason.The kids were supposed to start school this week. They went one day, and then the school district closed because of the record rainfall and flooding in the area. Sigh.

My very first end-of-summer power writing week got saturated with lines like, "What's for lunch? What can I eat for a snack? When is dinner?" Usually rendered as the participants stood in front of the gaping wide open refrigerator door. Do you detect a theme in these questions? Sigh.

I love them...but they really need to go back to school! :)In the mean time, I'll be re-reading the fabulous review by Katherine.It calms me in an otherwise soggy existence. :)L

Friday, August 08, 2008

08-08-08

Today is August 8th of 2008.Or 08-08-08Because I'm a math geek number lover, I completely adore it when dates fall into sequential numbers. Or better yet...math equations. :)For example 07-01-08 is a good day because 7+1=8And 09-01-08 will be a fabulous day because 9-1=8 Tee Hee!

And a friend of mine told me that 08-08-08 is an especially lucky day. Woo Hoo!Those of you who know me understand and love me anyway. :)L

STAR Contest Announcement...enter soon

***Permission to Forward Given and Encouraged***

Donna Dove glided onto a vacant spot on the wire where birds gathered for their nightly entertainment. Dusk was falling. Soon, the owners of the house across the street would flip on the lights and the movie would start. She could hardly wait to see that guy run into the sliding glass door. It always cackled her up.

“Hey, Mable.” Donna nudged her friend with a wingtip. “Birds of a feather stick together. You’re looking the wrong way.”

Mable didn’t so much as flutter. “Don’t bother me,” she tweeted. “I’m picking out my star.”

“Your star?” This she had to see. Donna swooped up, spun, and resettled herself beside Mable. As the sky darkened, a million lights popped onto the black backdrop. Donna bobbed her head – left, then right – watching. “Which one?” she chirped.

Mable lifted her beak and pointed. “That one. The bright white one next to the little yellow one. Star Mable,” she cooed. “Has a nice caw to it.”

“Ooooh, I like it,” Donna twittered. “I want one, too. The greenish one can be Donna Star.”

Mable snapped at a passing mosquito. “First, you have to win the Launching A Star contest,” she trilled after downing the tasty treat.

“Contest? Is that anything like fighting for grub worms?” Donna puffed and fluffed her chest feathers. She was a world class grub worm fighter.

“This is much easier.” Knowing it made her look as wise as an owl, Mable folded her wings. “Scratch out 25 pages of a romance and send it in with $30 by September 8th. The author of the best of the best gets a star named in their honor. Rules are on: www.authorsofromance.com ”

Donna whistled. She had the perfect love story about an albatross and a penguin.

“Thanks for telling me about Launching A Star,” Donna cawed when the movie ended and all the other birds fell off their perches laughing at the silly human.

“Tell all your friends,” Mable warbled as the two girls headed home to roost and type.

September was on its way and they both wanted to beat the deadline.

Be sure to enter the 2008 Launching A Star where acquiring editors and agents requested an amazing 15 manuscripts from the finalists of last year’s contest. As a direct result, two of our finalists signed with their dream agents. And one SOLD in a 3-book deal to a major NY publisher.

To enter, submit the first chapter (25 page max) of your unpublished romance in any of our seven categories. All first round judges (2 per entry, one trained, one published in romance) will provide constructive comments on every entry. Two industry professionals (one agent and one editor) will judge each category in the final round. Complete details and entry forms are available on the STAR Chapter website: www.authorsofromance.com

But hurry! You must send your entry in no later than September 8th.

Launching a Star 2008

Sponsor: SpacecoasT Authors of Romance Chapter (STAR)

Fee: $25-$30, SASE

Deadline: Post-marked by September 8th, Received by September 15th

E-deadline (for non-US residents only): Emailed by September 8th, received by September 10th.

Eligibility: Unpublished or not published by RWA-recognized publisher in book length fiction within 5 years

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Review for Menagerie from TRS

What would you do if you were sucked up into a vortex and found yourself on an alien ship and your purpose while there is to service five hunks?

One minute Valerie is out jogging the next she finds herself on an alien spaceship with little recollection of her life on Earth. Valerie knows she has to be dreaming when it's mentioned that she has to pick a man, the representative of five that she has to sexually service. Instead of following with the rest of the women as she's told to do, troublemaker Valerie goes off in another direction and bumps straight into a hard male body. He's a hunk and in her dreams Valerie is much more daring and decides she wants this man. Picking him from hundreds of men vying for her attention is a frightening task. But when she meets the other four men of his group, she knows she's made the right choice even if one of the four is huge, intense, and intimidating and somewhat scary.

Valerie is a funny, kind-hearted woman. She's insecure about her looks, she's not skinny, and has very little experience with men. Yet though at first she's believes she's dreaming she soon adjusts and boy does she. She continually breaks the rules laid down by the aliens and her whole attitude to the rules and regulations had me laughing on numerous occasions. She's a wonderful character. I loved her. The loves scenes are well written, sexy, and smokin' hot. Lucky Valerie. Each of the five heroes have individual personalities, looks, builds, and temperaments. They complement each other. They are compassionate, gorgeous, and help alleviate Valerie's insecurities which I found to be a nice touch. Great dialogue and some hilarious one-liners add to this entertaining story. But what delighted me the most was the rather sneaky twist towards the end that I was definitely not expecting. I recommend Menagerie as a fun, entertaining and sexy book to read.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Menagerie...in Print

What’s a girl to do with five hot guys who need her for their sexual survival? Create a weekly schedule.

Accidentally transported to an alien spaceship, Valerie Thornhill inadvertently volunteers to be a virtual sex slave for five men.

A shortage of females and her blatant curiosity aboard the alien vessel conspire and set fate in motion. The fact that the five are sexy and attractive is helpful when she learns the term of service is three years.

Forbidden to show favoritism within her unusual household for the duration of the long trip, Valerie still can’t help falling in love with the most intriguing one of her male harem. The fact that she is apprehensive about his demeanor and overall size only heightens her desire for him.

When the aliens discover Valerie’s indiscretion, the ultimate price for her desire may jeopardize the return trip to Earth for all of them.